JPH08286666A - Keyboard musical instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide the keyboard musical instrument which can suppress a collision sound between a hammer mechanism and a muting mechanism when mute music playing is automatically performed. CONSTITUTION: For the automatic mute music playing, a string strike speed Hv is converted into a key velocity KV by referring to a conversion table for mute playing. In this conversion table, the key velocity KV is set small within a range where the string strike speed Hv is large, so the driving of a key is suppressed and the rotating speed of the hammer mechanism is suppressed. Consequently, a noise such as the collision sound between the hammer mechanism and muting mechanism is reduced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention selects the function of an automatic playing piano in which a key is solenoid-driven based on performance data stored in a storage means and whether or not a hammer strikes a string when a key is pressed. The present invention relates to a keyboard instrument having a function of muffling performance.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional automatic playing piano, performance data consisting of a plurality of event data stored in a storage means such as a floppy disk is read out, and a key or pedal is driven by a solenoid based on the read out event data. Is configured. FIG. 7 shows a processing procedure after the event data is read out from the storage means in the conventional automatic playing piano, and is started every time the event data is read out. In the automatic playing piano, first, it is determined whether the read event data is for the keyboard or not for the keyboard (step S1). If the event is not for the keyboard, processing other than the keyboard drive is performed according to each event, such as driving the pedal (step S2). On the other hand, if the event is for the keyboard, the process proceeds to step S3 to perform a predetermined process for driving the key.

That is, the CPU refers to the conversion table stored in the ROM, and converts the speed data indicating the key pressing speed or the hammer speed of the performance data into the key velocity by using this conversion table (step S3). The converted key velocity indicates an exciting current supplied to the solenoid, and is supplied to the solenoid via a predetermined interface to drive the key at a speed corresponding to the value of the data (step S4). . As a result, the operation of the key is transmitted to the hammer through the action mechanism equivalent to that of a normal acoustic piano, and the hammer strikes the strings to generate a musical sound.

A keyboard instrument having a sound deadening mechanism is also known, in which the stopper prevents rotation of the hammer immediately before the hammer strikes the string, so that the string striking sound is not generated even when the key is pressed. There is.

[0005]

By the way, it is conceivable to mount the silencing mechanism on the automatic playing piano.
With this arrangement, when the key is driven based on the performance data, the sound deadening mechanism prevents the hammer from rotating,
It is possible to perform an automatic performance in which the keys are driven and the string striking sound is not generated. However, in this case, since no string striking sound is generated, a sound generated when the hammer comes into contact with the stopper, or various sliding sounds and collision sounds caused by the movement of the solenoid (for example, a sliding sound between the solenoid and the coil bobbin, a key There was a problem that you could hear the collision sound with the shelf board. And this problem was remarkable when the key velocity was high.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the problems of the above-described conventional piano player, and provides a keyboard instrument capable of suppressing the generation of abnormal noise when an automatic performance is performed in a muted performance state. The purpose is to do.

[0007]

A keyboard musical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the keyboard musical instrument has a key and a striking mechanism for transmitting a motion of the key to a hammer and striking a hit portion with the hammer. Performance data generating means for sequentially generating performance data including at least speed data indicating a key operation speed;
A key driving section for driving a key, a normal playing state in which the hammer hits the hit object according to the operation of the key, and a silent playing state in which the hammer does not hit the hit object even when the key operates A sound-reducing mechanism that enables selection of a tone generator, a tone generator that generates a tone signal based on the performance data generated by the performance data generator, and a speed data of the performance data generated by the performance data generator. A control means for driving the key by the key drive portion at a speed is provided, and the control means suppresses the drive speed of the key in the mute performance state as compared with the normal performance state.

A keyboard instrument according to a second aspect is the keyboard instrument according to the first aspect, further comprising: first and second means for converting the velocity data into an output velocity signal which increases as the velocity data increases. The second conversion data is configured to suppress the drive speed of the key by the key drive unit as compared with the first conversion data, and the control means includes: In the normal playing state, the speed data is converted into an output speed signal by using the first conversion data, and in the silence playing state, the speed data is converted into an output speed signal by using the second conversion data, and these outputs are output. It is characterized in that the lock is driven by the lock driving unit using a speed signal.

According to a third aspect of the keyboard instrument, in addition to the features of the second aspect, a plurality of the first conversion data are set in a setting range of a reproduction volume of automatic performance, and the reproduction volume is The first conversion data in a larger range is set such that the output speed signal after conversion is larger than the output speed signal converted by the other first conversion data, and the second conversion data is The value of the output speed signal at the minimum value that the speed data can take is equal to or greater than the minimum value of the output speed signals converted using the plurality of first conversion data at the minimum value, The value of the output speed signal at the maximum value that can be taken by the data is an intermediate value between the minimum value and the maximum value of the output speed signals converted using the plurality of first conversion data at the maximum value. Set to It is characterized in that there.

[0010]

In the keyboard instrument according to the first aspect of the present invention, in the automatic performance in the mute performance state, the key drive unit is controlled so that the drive speed of the key is suppressed as compared with that in the normal performance state of the control means. Therefore, the noise when the hammer mechanism comes into contact with the silencing mechanism and various sliding noises are reduced.

In the keyboard instrument according to the second aspect, in the automatic performance in the mute performance state, the speed data is output using the second conversion data in which the driving speed of the key is suppressed more than in the normal performance state. Since the speed signal is converted into a speed signal, a sound generated when the hammer mechanism contacts the silencing mechanism and various sliding sounds are reduced.

In the keyboard instrument according to the third aspect, in the range where the reproduction volume is high in the normal playing state, the first conversion data corresponding to the range is used, and the output speed signal after conversion becomes large. . Therefore, the operation of the key corresponding to the setting of the reproduction volume is given, and a large string striking sound is emitted accordingly. As described above, in the normal playing state, the output speed signal after conversion increases or decreases according to the setting of the reproduction volume, so that the string striking sound of the volume corresponding to the setting of the reproduction volume is emitted.

On the other hand, in the mute playing state, the output speed signal converted by the second conversion data is the minimum output speed signal converted by using the first conversion data when the speed data has the maximum value. The value becomes an intermediate value between the maximum value and the maximum value, and the drive speed of the key when the volume of the reproduced sound is high is suppressed. As described above, in the keyboard instrument according to the third aspect, it is possible to suppress natural motion of the key and suppress the motion to suppress the generation of abnormal noise. Further, when the speed data has the minimum value in the mute playing state, that is, when the volume of the reproduced sound is minimum, the output speed signal converted using the second conversion data is the first conversion data. Since it is equal to or higher than the minimum one of the output speed signals converted by using, it is possible to obtain a key action equivalent to or more than in a normal playing state, and it is possible to reproduce a natural key action.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
Will be described with reference to. This embodiment applies the present invention to an upright piano and has the following functions. (A) Function as a normal upright piano (b) Function to drive a key based on performance data stored in storage means or performance data input from an external device to generate a string striking sound for automatic performance (C) A function to generate a musical sound from an electronic sound source without striking a string even if a key is pressed. (D) A sound is generated from an electronic sound source without striking a string even if a key is driven based on performance data. Function (e) In the cases (a) and (c) above, a function of recording a key event as performance data. In particular, the upright piano of the embodiment is (f) automatic in the mute performance state, which is a feature of the present invention. It has a function of suppressing the driving speed of the key when playing. First, the mechanical structure of the upright piano of the embodiment will be described.

(1) Structure of Hammer Action Section FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing the structure of a hammer action section for striking a string by transmitting the action of one key of an upright piano to a hammer. The hammer action section shown in the figure includes a key 10 and a string striking mechanism 2 driven by the operation of the key 10.
0, a hammer assembly 40 that strikes the string S driven by the operation of the string striking mechanism 20, and a damper mechanism 50 that pushes the string S.

The key 10 is rotatably supported by a support member (not shown) arranged on the upper surface of the shelf board 11 and extending over the entire length of the keyboard. When the key is depressed, the rear end portion (the right end portion in FIG. 1) of the key 10 rises, and the capstan 12 attached thereto pushes up the string striking mechanism 20 described below.

In the figure, reference numeral 15 is an action bracket, and the action brackets 15 are arranged at a plurality of positions on both sides of the upright piano and their intermediate portions. A center rail 16 is erected on the action bracket 15 and these action brackets 1
5 and the center rail 16 constitute a framework of the hammer action portion. At the lower end of the center rail 16, one for each key 10 is provided with a wippen flange 2
2 are installed. At the lower end of the whip pen flange 22, one end of a whip pen 23 whose longitudinal direction is oriented in the front-rear direction of the upright piano is rotatably supported by a pin 22a. The whip pen 23 has a plate shape, and a whip pen heel 24 is attached to the lower surface of the other end. The lower surface of the whip pen heel 24 is supported by the capstan 12, so that the whip pen 23 is kept in a substantially horizontal initial position.

Further, a jack flange 25 projecting upward is attached to the whip pen 23, and an upper end portion of the jack flange 25 has a substantially L-shaped jack 2.
6 is rotatably supported near the bent portion. The jack 26 is composed of a large jack 26a extending obliquely upward and a small jack 26a substantially orthogonal to the large jack 26a. The jack 26 is urged in the clockwise rotation direction in the drawing by the jack small 26b being pushed up by the jack spring 27 attached to the whip pen 23. Also,
The turning range of the jack 26 is restricted by a jack stop felt 29 attached to the center rail 16 via a jack stop rail 28.
The position of the jack stop felt 29 can be adjusted by rotating the jack stop rail screw 30.

On the other hand, the center rail 16 is provided with a regulating rail 32 extending over the entire length of the keyboard 10 via a bracket 31. A regulating button 34 whose vertical position is adjustable by a screw 33 is attached to the regulating rail 32, and the lower end surface of the regulating button 34 is jacked when the whip pen 23 is rotated to a predetermined position. A felt pad 35 with which the tip of the small 26b abuts is attached.

Next, reference numeral 41 in the figure denotes a butt forming the base of the hammer assembly (hammer mechanism) 40. The bat 41 is rotatably attached to a bat flange 42 attached to the center rail 16 via a center pin 42a. A hammer shank 43 extending obliquely upward is attached to the butt 41, and a hammer 44 is attached to an upper end portion of the hammer shank 43. A catcher shank 45, which is substantially orthogonal to the hammer shank 43, is attached to the butt 41, and a catcher 46 is attached to the tip of the catcher shank 45. Further, at the upper right end of the butt 41, a butt spring 4 for urging the butt 41 in the counterclockwise rotation direction is provided.
7 is attached. Further, a butt under felt 41a and a butt under cloth 41b that covers the bat under felt 41a are attached to the lower surface of the bat 41, and the upper end surface of the large jack 26a is in contact with the butt under cloth 41b.

On the other hand, a hammer rail 36 extending over the entire length of the keyboard is attached to the action bracket 15 via a hammer rail hinge 36a. Plunger 37 is attached to hammer rail 36 for each hammer assembly 40. This plunger 37
The holder 37a is supported so as to be movable in the axial direction, and its inner end portion is supported by a vibration absorbing filling member (not shown) such as rubber provided in the holder 37a.
Under this structure, the hammer shank 43 of the hammer 44 hit by striking the string contacts the plunger 37, and the filling member in the holder 37a absorbs the kinetic energy of the hammer 44 to prevent the hammer shank 43 from rebounding. It is supposed to do. The hammer rail hinge 36a is formed in an L shape in order to avoid a stopper 66 for a catcher 46 described later. The hammer assembly 40 is held at the initial position where the hammer shank 43 is brought into contact with the plunger 37 by the urging force of the butt spring 47.

A back check 38 for elastically receiving the catcher 46 of the hammer assembly 40 that returns to the initial position is attached to the free end of the whip pen 23. Furthermore, next to the back check 38,
A bridle wire 39a is attached, and the upper end of the bridle wire 39a and the catcher 46 are connected by a bridle tape 39b. Bridle tape 39b
Is used to remove the rotation of the hammer assembly 40.
This is to prevent double striking of the string S due to rebound of the hammer assembly 40 by following the rotation return of the.

Next, the center frame 16 is rotatably supported by a damper lever flange (not shown) which has a damper lever 51 whose longitudinal direction is oriented vertically.
At the upper end of the damper lever 51, the damper wire 52
A damper 53 is attached via. The damper lever 51 is urged in the clockwise rotation direction by the damper lever spring 54 attached to the damper lever 51 and the damper lever flange so that the damper 53 is normally rotated.
Prevents the resonance when another string S is hit by pressing the string S.

On the other hand, when the whip pen 23 is rotated clockwise by pressing the key, the damper spoon 55 attached to the whip pen rotates the damper lever 51 counterclockwise against the urging force of the damper lever spring 54. The damper 53 is separated from the string S. After that, the hammer 44
Strikes the string S to generate a striking sound. Incidentally, reference numeral 5 in the drawing
6 is a damper rod, and this damper rod 56
Is to separate all the dampers 53 from the strings S by being driven by a pedal, for example.

The above is the general structure of the hammer action section in the upright piano, but the upright piano of the embodiment has the following silencing mechanism 60 in addition to the above structure.
have. That is, a shaft 63 is rotatably supported by each action bracket, and a rotary shaft of a motor M (not shown in FIG. 1) that rotates the shaft 63 is attached to one end of the shaft 63.

A spacer 65 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 63.
The stopper 66 is fixed via. Stopper 66
Is a cushion material 66 made of felt, for example.
and a pad 66b provided on the upper surface of the cushion material 66a and made of synthetic leather or the like for protecting the cushion material 66a. In the sound deadening mechanism 60 configured in this manner, the stopper 66 is oriented in a substantially horizontal direction (shown by the solid line in FIG. 1) to bring the hammer assembly 40 into a normal performance state in which normal rotation of the hammer assembly 40 is allowed. it can. On the other hand, from the state shown in FIG.
By turning the stopper 66 substantially downward (shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 1), the rotating catcher 46 comes into contact with the stopper 66, and further rotation of the hammer assembly 40 is prevented. It can be in a playing state.

Next, a shutter 71 is attached to the axially intermediate portion of the hammer shank 43. Shutter 7
Reference numeral 1 denotes an L-shape, and a window 71a is formed by cutting out the material into a rectangular shape at the tip thereof. On the other hand, a hammer sensor 72 is arranged at an intermediate portion between the hammer shank 43 and the damper 53. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 73 is a casing. The casing 73 has a U-shaped side cross section and extends over the entire length of the keyboard. Both ends of the casing 73 are attached to the action bracket 15.

A shutter 71 is provided on the side surface of the casing 73.
A slit (not shown) is formed through which is inserted. Further, inside the casing 73, an optical sensor 77 is attached to each slit such that the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion sandwich the respective slits. An end surface of an optical fiber having a common optical axis is exposed at the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the optical sensor 77, and the other end surface of the optical fiber is
Each opposes a light emitting element or a light receiving element provided in the controller 200 (see FIG. 3). This allows
The light emitted by the light emitting element is guided to the light emitting unit via the light emitting optical fiber, and a certain amount of light is projected from the light emitting unit toward the light receiving unit. Further, the light received by the light receiving section is guided to the light receiving element via the optical fiber for receiving light,
The light receiving state in the light receiving section is detected. Reference numeral 78 in the drawing is a felt that elastically receives the damper wire 52.

(2) Structure of keyboard part Next, FIG. 2 is a view showing the structure of the lower side of the keyboard. The upright piano of this embodiment is configured so that a solenoid SOL for driving a key can automatically play. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a shutter KS is provided on the lower side of the keyboard, and a key sensor KSE is provided on the upper surface of the shelf plate 11 facing the shutter KS. The key sensor KSE is provided with optical sensors (not shown) vertically spaced apart by a predetermined distance. When the key 10 is pressed, the upper optical sensor is shielded first, and then the lower optical sensor is shielded. . Conversely, when releasing the key,
First, the lower optical sensor is in the light receiving state, and then the upper optical sensor is in the light receiving state. In this embodiment, as will be described later, the key-off is detected based on the output signal of the key sensor KSE.

(3) Configuration of Controller Next, FIG. 3 shows the controller 200 in this embodiment.
2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the controller 2 shown in FIG.
00 is the string striking timing H from the light-shielded state of the optical sensor 77.
t and striking speed Hv are detected, and based on this, MID
Generate I data. Further, the controller 200 in this embodiment is configured to perform various processes such as automatic performance as will be described later. Below, controller 2
00 will be described in detail.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 201 denotes a CPU which controls each part of the apparatus. A ROM 202 stores a program used in the CPU 201.
Is a RAM in which various data are temporarily stored. RAM2
Reference numeral 03 is used as a storage area for control data used for control performed by the CPU 201. Reference numeral 204 denotes a panel switch section composed of various operators, and has a mute switch SW1 for instructing mute performance, a recording switch SW2 for instructing recording of performance data, and a reproduction switch SW3 for instructing reproduction of performance data. . Further, the panel switch section 204 has a volume dial VOL for adjusting the volume of the reproduced sound in the automatic performance and the volume in the silent performance.

Next, 205 is a sensor interface, which outputs a signal according to the light receiving state of the optical sensor 77 provided corresponding to each hammer shank 43 to the CPU 201.
Output to. In this case, the CPU 201 recognizes which key has been operated based on the signal supplied from the sensor interface 205, detects the string striking timing Ht from the light shielding timing, and calculates the string striking speed Hv. When the CPU 201 receives a signal from the key sensor KSE from the sensor interface 205, the CPU 201 recognizes the key-off timing based on the signal.
Then, the CPU 201 generates MIDI data of each event from the performance data.

Reference numeral 206 denotes a MIDI interface, which transmits MIDI events reproduced in the automatic performance to an external device and MID supplied from the external device.
The I event is received. The actuator interface 207 supplies an exciting current to the solenoid SOL shown in FIG. 2 under the control of the CPU 201. Under the control of the CPU 201, the motor drive circuit 208 rotates the motor M in response to the operation of the mute switch SW1 to switch between the normal performance state and the mute performance state.

Next, 209 is an external storage device, for example, a floppy disk driver is used. The external storage device 209 reads the performance data from a storage medium (for example, a floppy disk or the like), and then RAM 203.
To a predetermined area (direct memory access). Further, the external storage device 209 writes the performance data recorded in a predetermined area of the RAM 203 into a recording medium under the control of the CPU 201.

Reference numeral 210 denotes a tone generator circuit, which is the CPU 201.
It is a circuit for synthesizing a musical tone signal according to MIDI data supplied from. The tone generator circuit 210 stores tone waveforms similar to those of the upright piano, and also stores tone waveforms of other musical instruments. The selection of the tone color is performed by various switches in the operation panel 204, and the musical tone waveform corresponding to the designated tone color is selected. This sound source circuit 21
The tone signal created by 0 is supplied to the speaker SP or the headphones HH and is emitted as a tone.

(4) Operation of the Embodiment Next, the operation of the first embodiment having the above-mentioned structure will be described. a. Operation of hammer action part (during normal performance) When a key is pressed, the whip pen 23 is pushed up by the capstan 12 and pivots clockwise about the pin 22a. This allows Jack 26
a pushes up the butt 41 to rotate the hammer assembly 40 in the clockwise direction, and the hammer 44 strikes the string S corresponding to the depressed key 10. At the time of this string striking operation, the small jack 26b comes into contact with the regulating button 34 during its rotation, whereby the clockwise rotation of the jack 26 is blocked. On the other hand, since the whip pen 23 continues to rotate, the jack 26 relatively rotates counterclockwise with respect to the whip pen 23 with the regulating button 34 as a fulcrum.
The upper end surface of 6b escapes from the lower surface of the bat 41 to the left in the drawing, and moves to a position where it does not contact the bat 41. The movement of the hammer assembly 40 after the string is struck by the hammer 44 is returned by the catcher 46 to the back check 38.
The jack 26 is temporarily stopped by abutting against it, and during that time, the jack 26 is interlocked with the pivotal return of the whip pen 23 accompanying the return operation of the key 10, and the upper end of the large jack 26b enters the lower part of the bat 41 again. Enables string striking action.

The operation of the hammer shank 43 described above is detected by the optical sensor 77 as follows. Hammer 4
When 4 approaches the string S, the shutter 71 attached to the hammer shank 43 is inserted into the slit 73a of the casing 73 of the hammer sensor 72, and the leading edge of the shutter 71 crosses the optical axis P of the optical sensor 77. As a result, the light receiving portion of the optical sensor 77 is shielded from light, and the light shielding timing is detected by the CPU 201. After that, the hammer shank 43 further rotates, the window 71a of the shutter 71 crosses the optical axis P,
The light receiving portion of the optical sensor 77 is again in the light receiving state. Next, the light receiving portion of the optical sensor 77 is shielded by the shutter 71, and the shielding timing is detected by the CPU 201.
After that, the hammer shank 43 further rotates to strike the string S.

As described above, the CPU 201 detects the light shielding timing of the optical sensor 77 twice. And
The second light interception timing is detected as the string striking timing Ht, and the string striking speed Hv is calculated from the time from the first light interception to the second light interception. The string striking timing Ht and the string striking speed Hv are recorded as performance data in the RAM 203 or the external storage device 209 together with the key code indicating the depressed key 10, or output to the outside through the MIDI interface 206. ing. The key release timing is detected by the key sensor KSE, and is recorded as performance data in the RAM 203 or the external storage device 209 together with the key code indicating the released key 10 and the time data indicating the key release timing. The data is output to the outside via the interface 206.

(During mute playing) Next, in order to enter the mute playing state, first, the stopper 66 is rotated from the substantially horizontal state of FIG. 1 and directed substantially downward as indicated by the one-dot chain line. If the key is pressed in this state, the wippen 23 will move to the capstan 12
Is pushed up by and is rotated clockwise about the pin 22a. As a result, the jack large 26a pushes up the butt 41 and rotates the hammer assembly 40 in the clockwise direction. Next, when the small jack 26b contacts the regulating button 34, the upper end surface of the large jack 26b escapes from the lower surface of the bat 41 to the left in the drawing. In the meantime, the hammer assembly 40 continues to rotate due to inertial force, but the catcher 46 contacts the stopper 66 before hitting the string S and is rebounded counterclockwise. After that, the returning operation of the hammer assembly 40 and the like is the same as that in the normal performance.

In the case of mute performance, the hammer shank 43
Is repelled by the stopper 66, but the shutter 71 shields the optical sensor 77 twice before the hammer shank 43 is repelled. This two times of shading is CPU201
The CPU 201 detects the string striking timing Ht and detects the string striking speed Hv in the same manner as described above.
To calculate. The string striking timing Ht and the string striking speed H
v is a MIDI code with a key code indicating the operated key.
It is converted into data and supplied to the tone generator circuit 210, whereby a tone signal corresponding to a key operation is emitted. In addition,
The volume of this tone signal is controlled according to the operation of the volume dial VOL of the panel switch unit 204. In this way, since the musical sound is generated in response to the mechanical operation of the hammer 44, the player can hear the musical sound by pressing the keys with headphones or the like as if he or she were pulling an acoustic piano. In this case, if the musical tone signal generated by the tone generator circuit 210 is set in the same manner as the musical tone waveform of this upright piano, the performer can hear the musical tone similar to that in the normal performance through the headphones HH or the like. it can.

Further, also in the mute performance, as in the case of the normal performance, the string striking timing Ht and the string striking speed Hv.
And the key release timing is stored in the RAM 20 as performance data.
3 or external storage device 209, or MI
The data is output to the outside via the DI interface 206. As a result, the performance can be recorded or the external device can be controlled not only in the normal performance but also in the mute performance.

B: Automatic Performance Processing (Normal Performance Mode) Next, the automatic performance processing of this embodiment will be described. The automatic performance processing is performed by the performance data transferred to a predetermined area of the RAM 203 or the external storage device 20.
This is processing based on the performance data transferred from 9 to a predetermined area of the RAM 203. First, the panel switch unit 204
When the reproduction switch SW3 is operated to instruct the start of automatic performance, performance data read processing is performed in another processing routine (not shown). In this case,
Reading of performance data is performed by an interrupt processing routine. The interruption is performed by the tempo clock corresponding to the tempo, and for example, the interruption is performed 24 times per quarter note. The reading process is a process of sequentially reading the performance data in the RAM 203 from the top data.

More specifically, the performance data includes a plurality of event data including an event type (keyboard / pedal, on / off, etc.), key code, key velocity, etc., and a reproduction time interval of each event data. It consists of the duration data shown, and when the duration data is read, it is subtracted each time the tempo clock is output,
When it reaches 0, the next performance data is read. And
After that, the next duration data is read and the same operation is performed thereafter. In this way, the performance data is read out at the same timing as during recording, that is, at substantially the same timing as the string striking timing Ht. Then, each time the event data is read by the above processing, the subroutine shown in FIG. 4 is activated.

First, in step Sa1, it is determined whether or not the process based on the performance data is a keyboard event. If the process is not a keyboard event, step S
The determination result in a1 is "NO", and the process proceeds to step Sa2 to perform a process other than the key drive according to the event such as driving the pedal.

If the process based on the performance data is a keyboard event, the determination result in step Sa1 is "YE
S ", the process proceeds to step Sa3 and it is determined whether or not the mute performance is instructed. Here, the mute performance is instructed when the mute switch SW1 of the panel switch section 204 is pressed, and released when the mute switch is pressed again. If the mute performance is not instructed, the determination result in step Sa3 is "NO", and the process proceeds to step Sa4 to perform the process described later.

That is, in step Sa4, as shown in FIG. 5, the string striking speed Hv, which is the performance data, is converted into the key velocity KV by using the conversion table stored in the ROM 202.
Is the process of converting to. FIG. 5A shows a volume dial V
FIG. 7B shows a conversion table used when the volume setting of the OL is large, FIG. 7B shows a conversion table used when the volume setting is medium, and FIG. As described above, in the automatic performance processing, when the volume dial VOL is adjusted and the volume setting reaches a certain value, the conversion table is switched and the volume of the automatic performance is changed stepwise.

Comparing FIGS. 5 (A) to 5 (C), the ratio of the key velocity KV to the string striking speed Hv is large in the range in which the volume setting is large. For more information,
The value of the key velocity KV at the minimum value of the string striking speed Hv slightly increases and the rate of increase of the key velocity KV with respect to the string striking speed Hv increases as the volume setting shifts to a larger range. Therefore, when the volume setting is changed, the difference in key velocity KV is small in a range where the string striking speed Hv is small, but the difference in key velocity KV increases as the string striking speed Hv increases. By using such a conversion table, a small sound is reliably reproduced as a string striking sound even if the volume setting is made small, and a medium or higher sound is reproduced at a volume corresponding to the volume setting. .

Now, in step Sa4, according to the setting of the volume of the volume dial VOL, as shown in FIGS.
Any one of the conversion tables is selected, and the value of the key velocity KV corresponding to the string striking speed Hv is read from the selected conversion table. For example, when the volume setting is large, the key velocity KV ₁ is read for the string striking speed Hv ₀ ,
When the volume setting is medium, the key velocity KV ₂ is read, and when the volume setting is small, the key velocity KV ₃ is read (however, KV ₁ > KV ₂ > KV ₃ ).

Next, when the processing proceeds to step Sa5, the CPU 20
Reference numeral 1 outputs a key code KC, a key-on signal KON, and a key-off signal KOF from the performance data read in the above-mentioned interrupt processing together with the key velocity KV, thereby controlling the supply / stop of the exciting current to the solenoid SOL. At that time, an exciting current corresponding to the magnitude of the key velocity KV is supplied to the solenoid SOL, and the key 10 is driven at a speed corresponding to the magnitude of the exciting current. As a result, the hammer 44 rotates at a speed corresponding to the magnitude of the key velocity KV, and strikes the string S to emit a string striking sound. In this way, the solenoid SOL is driven according to the magnitude of the string striking speed Hv and the volume setting, and the key 10 is moved up and down in response to the string striking to perform automatic string playing by the upright piano.

(Silent Performance Mode) Next, when the silent performance is instructed, the determination result in step Sa3 is "YES", the flow proceeds to step Sa6 to refer to the conversion table for the silent performance and perform the key operation. Converts velocity KV. FIG. 6A is a diagram showing a conversion table for mute performance. When mute performance is instructed, one conversion table shown in FIG. 6A is used regardless of the volume setting. As shown in FIG. 6A, the key velocity KV when the string striking speed Hv is minimum is larger than any of the key velocities KV in the conversion table shown in FIG. 5, and the key velocity KV with respect to the string striking speed Hv. The rate of increase is slightly larger than that shown in FIG. 5 (C). Further, the key velocity KV when the string striking speed Hv is maximum is smaller than that shown in FIG. 5 (B). Therefore, the key velocity KV of the conversion table for mute performance
Is higher than the key velocity KV of the conversion table for normal performance in the range where the string striking speed Hv is small.
In the range where v is large, the key velocity KV of the conversion table when the volume setting is medium is located between the key velocity KV of the conversion table when the volume setting is small.

Here, if the key velocity KV is too small, the key operation following the instruction of the performance data will not be performed when the continuous stroke is instructed by the performance data.
In (A), the key velocity KV when the string striking speed Hv is minimum is set to a small value that does not impair the continuous hitting performance. Note that this value is larger than any key velocity KV in the conversion table shown in FIG. 5, as described above. As a result, the key velocity KV when the string striking speed Hv in FIG. 6A is minimum does not impair the continuous striking performance even when the string striking speed is minimum. Further, the key velocity KV when the string striking speed Hv in FIG. 6 (A) is a value of a value that does not cause noise when the key 10 is driven with the key velocity KV (or noise is so small that it does not matter). The maximum value is adopted.

Next, FIG. 6B is another example of the conversion table for mute performance, in which the key velocity KV with respect to the string striking speed Hv is fixed at a small value so as not to impair the continuous hitting performance. Is. According to this conversion table, the key 10 operates at the same speed for any string striking speed Hv, so there is a visual problem, but the heat generation of the solenoid Sol can be minimized.

FIG. 6C shows still another example of the conversion table for mute performance. In FIG. 6C, the string striking speed H
Key velocity KV and string striking speed H when v is maximum
The key velocity KV when v is the minimum is determined in the same manner as in FIG. 6 (A), and above a certain string striking speed Hv1, the key velocity KV when the string striking speed Hv is the maximum is set to be constant. Below the velocity Hv1, there is a linear change from the key velocity KV when the string striking velocity Hv is the minimum to the key velocity KV when the string striking velocity Hv is the maximum. As shown in FIG. 6A, when the key velocity KV when the string striking speed Hv is the minimum and the key velocity KV when the string striking speed Hv is the maximum is connected by a straight line, the slope of this straight line becomes small. Inevitably, the change of the actual key 10 is scarce as compared with the change of the string striking speed Hv. However,
In FIG. 6 (C), the string striking speed Hv that is rarely used in practice.
With respect to 1 or more, the key velocity KV when the string striking speed Hv is the maximum is made constant, thereby increasing the slope of a straight line below the string striking speed Hv1 that is frequently used in practice, and with respect to changes in the string striking speed Hv The change in the speed of the actual key 10 is made large.

6 (A) to 6 (C), in general, the collision noise and the solenoid S are generated in the range where the string striking speed Hv is large.
Since it is important to solve the problem of heat generation of ol, the driving speed of the key 10 is suppressed, and since faithful reproduction is important in a range where the string striking speed is small, the driving speed of the key 10 is increased.

Then, in step Sa6, the key velocity KV corresponding to the string striking speed Hv is read by referring to the above conversion table. At this time, the key velocity KV, the key code KC, the key-on signal KON, and the key-off signal KOF are converted into MIDI data and sent to the tone generator circuit 210. Here, the sound source circuit 210
6 does not refer to the conversion table of FIG. 6, but the string velocity Hv is simply MIDI.
It just converts it to data. As a result, the sound source circuit 2
In 10, the key velocity KV, key code KC,
A tone signal is generated based on the key-on signal KON and the key-off signal, and is sounded from the speaker SP or the like. The volume of the musical sound is controlled according to the operation of the volume dial VOL of the panel switch unit 204.

Next, in step Sa5, the key 10 is driven by the solenoid SOL. At step Sa5, together with the key velocity KV converted by referring to the conversion table as shown in FIG. 6 at step Sa6,
From the performance data read by the interrupt processing, key code KC,
A key-on signal KON and a key-off signal KOF are output to control the supply / stop of the exciting current to the solenoid SOL. At that time, an exciting current corresponding to the magnitude of the key velocity KV is supplied to the solenoid SOL,
The key 10 is driven at a speed corresponding to the magnitude of the exciting current. As a result, the hammer 44 rotates at a speed corresponding to the size of the key velocity KV, but the hammer shank 43
Comes into contact with the stopper 66 and the hammer is repelled in front of the string S. Therefore, the striking sound of the string S by the hammer 44 is not generated.

As described above, according to the present invention, "When playing a mute, even if the key is driven according to the performance data, the key is not struck. Therefore, it is sufficient that the key operates in accordance with the string-striking timing. It may be suppressed to a certain extent. "Since the conversion table for silencing performance is set as described above, the hammer assembly 40 stops the stopper 66 even if the key velocity KV is maximum. The noise such as a collision sound generated by contacting the contact surface hardly leaks to the outside, or even if it leaks, the noise is not noticeable. Further, in the range where the string striking speed Hv is medium or higher, the key velocity KV is smaller than that in the case where the volume setting shown in FIG.
The exciting current to the OL becomes small. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the heat generation of the solenoid SOL when performing the automatic performance in the mute performance state, and to reduce the influence on the solenoid SOL and its peripheral devices.

In particular, in the above embodiment, the key velocity KV of the conversion table for mute performance when the string striking speed Hv is the minimum is the key velocity K of the conversion table for normal performance.
Since it is equal to or higher than V, even in that case, a natural key operation equivalent to that in the normal performance can be reproduced. As described above, in the keyboard instrument having the above-described configuration, it is possible to suppress the operation of the key 10 while ensuring the natural operation of the key 10, thereby suppressing the generation of abnormal noise and the heat generation of the solenoid SOL.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the driving speed of the key 10 is suppressed more during the mute performance than during the normal performance, but the tone signal volume generated by the tone generator circuit 210 is equal to the string striking speed Hv. Since it is simply converted into MIDI data, the musical tone generated from the speaker SP or the like faithfully corresponds to the string striking speed Hv, and does not give any discomfort to the listener.

D. Modifications The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, but various modifications are possible as follows. In the above embodiment, the string striking speed Hv is converted into the key velocity KV using the conversion table, but it is also possible to store the calculation formula or constant in the ROM 202 and control so as to calculate the key velocity KV. Three conversion tables for the normal performance mode in the automatic performance processing are set, but the number is arbitrary. Alternatively, the volume setting value may be used as a third parameter, and the relationship between the key velocity KV and the string striking speed Hv at each volume may be mapped and stored in the ROM 202. In the above embodiment, the volume can be set by the volume dial VOL. However, even if the volume cannot be adjusted, the point is that the key operation in the mute playing state is suppressed as compared with the key operation in the normal playing state. Good. In the above embodiment, the conversion table for mute performance is prepared separately from the plurality of conversion tables for normal performance, but the present invention is not limited to this, and conversion table for mute performance is selected from the plurality of conversion tables for normal performance. A table may be selected. In this case, the conversion table that suppresses the key operation as compared with other conversion tables, that is, FIG. 5C in FIG. 5A to FIG. 5C may be selected. In the above embodiment, the drive speed is suppressed only for the keyboard event, but the present invention can be similarly applied to the pedal event. In this embodiment, the key code, the key on / off, and the key velocity are detected by the hammer sensor 72 and the key sensor KSE, but may be detected only by the key sensor KSE. In the above embodiment, the performance data and the optical sensor 77 read out only when the player instructs the mute performance.
Although the MIDI data corresponding to the key operation detected in step S1 is transmitted to the tone generator circuit 210, the performance data and the MIDI data are also transmitted in the tone generator circuit 210 even in the case of normal performance.
It may be sent to. In the above embodiment, the keys are driven based on the performance data stored in the RAM 203, but the present invention is not limited to this.
The present invention can also be applied to the case of driving a key based on performance data input from the outside via the MIDI interface 206. In the above embodiment, the stopper mechanism 66 is used to prevent the catcher 46 from rotating as a sound deadening mechanism. In short, it is sufficient to prevent the hammer 44 from striking the strings, for example, the hammer shank 43 or the hammer 44.
The rotation may be prevented. Further, the mechanism for driving the sound deadening mechanism may be electrically driven not only by a motor or the like but also mechanically by using a wire or the like. In addition, the present invention can be applied to keyboard musical instruments other than upright pianos, for example, grand pianos, and all keyboard musical instruments such as harpsichords, celestas, and organs.

[0061]

As described above, in the keyboard musical instrument of the present invention, noise when an automatic performance is performed in a muted performance state is suppressed, and heat generation of the key drive section can be suppressed (claim 1). Claim 2). Further, even when the reproduced sound is low, the key can be reliably operated to obtain the natural operation of the key (claim 3).

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing an upright according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a lower structure of a keyboard of an upright piano.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a conversion table for normal performance of automatic performance.

FIG. 6A is a diagram showing a conversion table for muted performance of automatic performance, and FIGS. 6B and 6C are diagrams showing other examples of such a conversion table.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of a conventional keyboard instrument.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... key, 40 ... hammer assembly (hammer mechanism),
60 ... string striking mechanism, 200 ... controller (control means),
210 ... Sound source circuit (sound source means), S ... String, SOL ... Solenoid (key driving unit)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A keyboard musical instrument having a key and a string striking mechanism for transmitting a motion of the key to a hammer and striking a struck portion with the hammer, and performance data including at least velocity data indicating an operating velocity of the key. Performance data generating means for sequentially generating a key, a key driving section for driving a key, a normal performance state in which the hammer hits the hit body according to the operation of the key, and the hammer is operated even when the key operates. A muffling mechanism that allows selection of a mute performance state in which the hit object is not hit, a sound source means for generating a tone signal based on the performance data generated by the performance data generating means, and a sound generation means for generating the performance data generating means. Control means for driving the key by the key drive portion at a speed according to the speed data of the played performance data, wherein the control means is in the mute performance state and in the normal performance state. A keyboard instrument that is characterized by suppressing the drive speed of the key compared to. 2. The keyboard musical instrument according to claim 1, further comprising: first and second means for converting the velocity data into an output velocity signal which increases as the velocity data increases.
Storage means for storing the conversion data of the second conversion data, the second conversion data is to suppress the drive speed of the key by the key drive unit compared to the first conversion data, the control means, In the normal playing state, the speed data is converted into an output speed signal by using the first conversion data, and in the silence playing state, the speed data is converted into an output speed signal by using the second conversion data, and these outputs are output. 2. The keyboard instrument according to claim 1, wherein the key driving section drives a key using a speed signal. 3. A plurality of the first conversion data are set in a setting range of a reproduction volume of an automatic performance, and the first conversion data in a range where the reproduction volume is higher is the output after conversion. The value of the output speed signal when the speed signal is set to be larger than the output speed signal converted by the other first conversion data, and the second conversion data is the minimum value that the speed data can take Is the minimum value or more of the output speed signals converted using the plurality of first conversion data at the minimum value, and the value of the output speed signal at the maximum value that the speed data can take is, The said maximum value is set so that it may become the intermediate | middle value of the minimum thing and the maximum thing of the output speed signal converted using said some 1st conversion data. Keyboard instrument.